Parent & Student Handbook - Independence Charter School

Learning Journey
Spanish in order to support the ICS Spanish language instruction (which demonstrates a strong
commitment to immerse the school in world culture, through second language acquisition).
2) Music around the world: Based on the ICS social studies curriculum, the music curriculum integrates
general music knowledge with the music culture of the countries that are being studied. For example, if
the Kindergarteners are learning about China in their classrooms, they will simultaneously be learning a
song from or about China (or about musical instruments, composers and singers from China) in music
class.
Students in grades 6-8 meet in weekly seminars in Global Arts including focusing on drumming
traditions of many nations and cultures. The PTA supports bringing guest musicians to ICS and student
attendance of concerts in the community.
Dance/Movement and Fitness
Our dance and movement program allows students in grades K-5 to develop aerobic and muscular
strength, expand their cultural studies with ethnic and period dances, and develop a better kinesthetic
awareness of their bodies. Research shows that about 85% of school-aged children are predominantly
kinesthetic, or physical, learners. Using movement in the learning process helps many students retain
and retrieve information more efficiently. Students in grades 6-8 participate in fitness programming
which includes introductions to various team sports and individual health education.
Spanish Enhanced Program
The Spanish Enhanced program at ICS includes all classes where English is the primary language of
instruction. Typically, parents have chosen this program for their children with the knowledge that their
children will also receive an intense daily infusion of Spanish instruction. These daily Spanish FLES
classes are taught by teachers who have a native or near-native fluency. Primary instruction goals are to
build conversational Spanish utilizing TPR (Total Physical Response) including singing, dancing, acting
and the like. Students also learn to read and write in Spanish. Students graduating from ICS in the FL
ES program should take entrance exams for Spanish in high school because many may qualify for midlevel
entry in Spanish II or Spanish III. Lower grade FLES students will receive daily Spanish
instruction of 30 minutes per day for a total of 150 minutes weekly. Upper grade student schedules
include four 50-minute Spanish classes for a total of 200 minutes per week of Spanish instruction.
Research has shown that second language acquisition is beneficial for elementary and middle school
students affecting all subject areas including math, science, and language arts.
Spanish Immersion Program
Students enrolled in the Spanish Immersion program usually enter Immersion in K or first grades. Most
students do not speak any Spanish upon entry. The goal of the program is to facilitate successful
learning using Spanish as the medium of instruction. This immediate and intense immersion into the
language produces students who are fully bilingual (speaking) and biliterate (reading and writing).
Homework, outdoor walks, celebrations, discussions, mathematics: all are conducted in Spanish. Parents
are sometimes concerned regarding the development of reading skills in English. Parents are expected to
read to their children in English at home for 15 to 30 minutes daily, sitting side-by-side. Most students in
Immersion absorb English from the dominant culture and media and are reading in English by second
grade without any direct instruction. This is in large part due to the ease of transition from a Spanish
alphabet/sound system to English. English is formally introduced in Kindergarten as a bi-weekly 30-
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